Hoyer on President Bush’s California Speech

CALIFORNIA AND THE NATION NEED LESS TALK, MORE ACTION

WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today in response to President George Bush’s economic speech in Dinuba, California:

“The irony of President Bush’s speech today in the Tulare County city of Dinuba is striking. This small town of about 18,000 had an unemployment rate of more than 17% last month, and averaged more than 21% unemployment during 2002.

“I am sure that the citizens of Dinuba were waiting to hear something substantial from the President today – perhaps a new economic policy or initiative. In between the President’s million-dollar fundraisers in Fresno and Riverside, the state of California, which has one of the highest unemployment rate in the nation, could have used some encouraging words from the President about what he’s doing to stem the job hemorrhage.

“Unfortunately, President Bush offered nothing new. His repeated promise of ‘robust economic growth’ sounds hollower and more out of touch every day. The President probably won’t actually spend time with citizens in Dinuba who would like to ask him ‘unfiltered’ questions about what he is going to do to help create jobs. Instead he just offered from the podium the same tired policies that have been on his political agenda since he took office.

“The President said he can’t wait to talk to Governor-elect Schwarzenegger about improving the economic situation in California. I would bet most Californians sincerely hope the President and Governor-elect together can come up with more successful ideas than the failed policies we’ve seen from this Administration so far.”